300 PLANTS NOV^ THXJKBERIAN^. 



tuous, on account of the mountain ranges to be avoided : it passes over sterile, low, 

 rounded hills, strewed in places with fragments of chalcedony. Among the plants col- 

 lected on this portion of the route were Berheris pinnata, GEnothera albicaidis, QL. 

 Wrightii, Dalea Jamesii and D. nana, Krameria lanceolata, &c. Near the camp on the 

 Mimbres grew CEnothera Hartwegii, var., and a fine Astragalus, which has been dedi- 

 cated to Dr. J. M. Bigelow, an enthusiastic botanist, and the surgeon to the Com- 

 mission. 



" Soon after arriving at the Copper Mines an excursion was made to the Mimbres, 

 striking it at a point several miles above the crossing: it is reached in a distance of 

 eight miles by following a narrow trail through the mountain. In this mountain pass 

 Lonicera diimosa. Gray, was found in flower (it was described in Plautse "Wrightianfe 

 from fruiting specimens only): the flowers are yellowish and inodorous. Fendlera 

 rupicola grew in abundance upon the sides of the mountain. This would be a very 

 ornamental shrub in cultivation, bearing a profusion of white flowers, with which the 

 pink unexpanded buds appear in marked contrast. A new Rohinia was met with here 

 just in flower; it is hoped that some future collector will obtain the seeds, as its low 

 stature, neat habit, and abundant rose-colored flowers render it a desirable addition to 

 our ornamental shrubs. The valley of the Mimbres at this point is broad, and covered 

 Avith luxuriant grass. Traces of former inhabitants were seen. The ground-plan of 

 houses was distinctly visible, and fragments of pottery, of quality and markings similar 

 to those collected afterwards among the so-called Aztec ruins, were abundant. Fraxi- 

 nus vehitinus, Torr. and Xegundo aceroides grew along the margin of the river. 

 Among the gravelly knolls which border the bottom Lupinus pusillus. Astragalus 

 Missouriensis and A. tephrodes, Erigeron divergens, var. cinereum, Diplopappnis cricoides, 

 and several Ngctaginacece, were collected. 



" In the latter part of May a trip was made into the State of Sonora as far as Arispe, 

 its former capital. The wagon route of Colonel Cooke was followed as far as Agua 

 Prieta or Black-Water Creek. The country is generally desert-like, consisting of 

 broad, rolling sandy plains, with isolated ranges of equally barren mountains. Baileya, 

 Riddellia, and other yellow Compositfe, were abundant; as also were Eschscholtzia 

 Californka, var., lonidium Uneare, and Makastrum leptophyllum. Occasional large tracts 

 were passed where the vegetation had a singularly dreary aspect, being made up of 

 tall Yuccas, Dasylirion, and Opuntia arhorescens. Of the latter, fine specimens were 

 seen, attaining the height of ten or twelve feet. When covered with its crimson flowers 

 and lemon-yellow fruit it is a truly beautiful object. Near the dry bed of a lake 

 (Las Playas, of the maps of that region), Cleome Sonorce, Cleomella longipes, and 



